Online Paintings: Lake and the Chablis Alps from Caux

Monday, November 14, 2011

Lake and the Chablis Alps from Caux

Posted by Victoria Brandon at 2:47 AM

Lake Geneva or Lake Leman could be a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one among the largest lakes in Western Europe.59.53 % 345.31 km2 of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland, and 40.47 % 234.71 km2 under France. The average surface elevation of 372 m (1,220 ft) higher than ocean level is controlled by the Seujet Dam near Geneva.

Lake Geneva, shaped by a retreating glacier, has a crescent form that narrows around Yvoire on the southern shore. It will thus be divided figuratively into the "Grand Lac" to the east and also the "Petit Lac" (Small Lake) to the west. The Chablais Alps border its southern shore, the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern aspect. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are visible from some places. Compagnie Generally de Navigation sur le lac Leman (CGN) operates boats on the lake.

The lake lies on the route of the Rhone. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier close to the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, getting into the lake between Villeneuve and Le Bouveret, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva.

Lake Geneva is that the largest body of water in Switzerland, and greatly exceeds in size all others that are connected with the main valleys of the Alps. It is within the shape of a crescent, with the horns pointing south, the northern shore being 95 km (59 mi), the southern shore 72 km (45 mi) in length. The crescent form was more regular during a recent geological period, when the lake extended to Bex, regarding 18 km (11 mi) south of Villeneuve. The detritus of the Rhone has filled up this portion of the bed of the lake, and it seems that within the historical period the waters concerning about 2 km (1.2 mi) beyond the present eastern margin of the lake.

The greatest depth of the lake, within the broad portion between Evian and Lausanne, where it is just 13 km (8.1 mi) in width, has been measured as 310 m (1,020 ft), putting the bottom of the lake at 62 m (203 ft) above sea level. The lake's surface is the lowest point of the cantons of Valais and Vaud.

The snowy peaks of the Mont Blanc are shut out from the western end of the lake by the ridge of the Voirons, and from its eastern end by the bolder summits of the Grammont, Cornettes de Bise and Dent d'Oche, but are seen from Geneva, and between Nyon and Morges.